Arm-rest.



No. 755,040. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

v A. B. PEOK.

ARM REST.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1903.

NO MODEL.

lUNiTnn STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT @FFI E.

ARM-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,040, dated March 22, 1904. Application filed June 26, 1903. Serial No. 163,165. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BENTON PECK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arm-Rests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to arm-rests of adjust able height adapted for the use of accountants or others having similar needs; and its general objects are to provide a simple, light, and rigid rest which does not require for its stability a perfectly plane support, that may be instantly adjusted at any height, and as easily and quickly be changed from any other height to its lowest or most compact form.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device, the line of vision being obliquely toward the lower side of the apparatus. Fig. 52 is a bottom plane of the apparatus when in its most compact form. Fig. 3 is aside elevation showing the rest raised slightly from its lowest position.

In the figures, A represents a plane, preferably rectangular, plate of metal or other suitable material, and B B leg-like supports hinged to the lower side of the plate at some distance apart to swing in the same direction about parallel axes. The free ends of these supports terminate in disks or spherical knobs C O, which are preferably provided with rubber caps C" to prevent their mar-ring the surface upon which they may rest. A little above the plane of the lower sides of the knobs these supports are pivotally connected by a link E, having on its upper side ratchet-teeth E, the series of teeth being continued along the upwardly-turned surface of the link at E With this ratchet normally engages a pawl F, pivoted at a suitable point above the link to the plate or a part connected thereto and lifted when desired by grasping means of a handle H, attached to its pintle or pivot. Shoulders I, Fig. 3, prevent the supports from swinging in the wrong direction from perpendicular position. The length of the pawl and the point of pivoting are such that when the supports are vertical, holding the plate at its highestpoint, the pawl is oblique and in engagement with the straight porit directly or by tion of the ratchet, and when the plate is near its lowest point, as in Fig. 3, the pawl engages the teeth of the inclined portion E If the plate be raised from its lowest position, the supports swing upon their hinges under the action of gravity, their lower ends merely rocking upon the supporting-surface, the link moves slightly in a longitudinal direction and the pawl engages the teeth in succession, preventing any contrary movement or descent o the plate. In other words, if the plate be merely lifted to any desired height it is automatically locked at that height.

Todepress the plate, the pawl is released in the most convenient way, usually by grasping the plate with one hand and with the Same hand pressing the handle H, and thereby holding the pawl out of engagement while the plate is lowered to the desired point, where it is automatically locked if the pawl be released by the hand.

It is to be noted that this device is supported upon knobs or tips instead of upon a flat board or base and is not necessarily unstable, although the supporting-surface be not smooth nor plane, that it cannot mar the desk, is inexpensive, has few parts and no springs nor detachable parts, adjusts perfectly near its limits, and occupies when most compactly adjusted a very small space.

It is plain that the construction set forth need not be exactly followed, and I therefore wishto claim my invention specifically and also as broadly as the state of the art. will permit. 4

What I claim is- 1. In an arm-rest, the combination with a plane plate of leg-like supports hinged to the lower side of the plate between its lateral edges to fold in the same direction against the plate, a link pivotally connecting the supports at some distance above their free ends, an means for locking the link at any desired point in the path it follows as the supports fold; whereby the plate is secured at any desired height.

2. In an arm-rest, the combination with a plane plate, of leg-like supports hinged to the lower side of the plate between its lateral edges to fold in the same direction against the plate, a ratchet-bar pivotally connecting the supports at some distance above their free ends and moving longitudinally as the supports fold, and a pawl pivoted to the plate and adapted to engage said ratchet-bar and lock it at any point in its path.

3. In an arm-rest, the combination with a plate of two supports hinged to the lower side of the plate to swing in the same direction from perpendicular position, "a ratchet-bar pivotally connecting said supports above their free ends, a pawl pivoted to the plate in position to engage the ratchet-bar at any point in ALBERT BENTON PECK.

Witnesses:

VVALLAOE GREENE, J. JEROME LIGIITFOOT. 

